Different studies have documented opposite relations between perceived risk and health-related risky behavior, such as unprotected sex. The present study tested a theoretical explanation that reconciles these conflicting results. Adolescents (N = 596) completed alternative measures of risk perception that differed on such dimensions as cue specificity and response format. As predicted by fuzzy-trace theory, measures that emphasized verbatim retrieval and quantitative processing produced positive correlations between perceived risk and risky behavior; risk perceptions reflected the extent to which adolescents engaged in risky behavior. In contrast, measures that assessed global gist-based judgments of risk produced negative correlations; higher risk perceptions were associated with less risk taking, a protective rather than reflective relation. Endorsement of simple, categorical principles provided the greatest protection against risk taking. Results support a dual-processes interpretation of risk perception and risk taking in which observed relations depend on verbatim vs. gist cues in questions.